"Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I will
meet you there."
--Rumi

Monday, December 5, 2011

Cave of Forgotten Dreams

If you haven't seen this film, put it on your list. It is showing in the theatres in 3D but I saw it on my TV through Netflix. It is about the Chauvet Cave that was discovered by some French hikers in 1994. It is an amazing film and I so wish I was one of the scientists that was allowed to walk through on the special platforms laid down as walkways to preserve the ground beneath. They were not allowed to touch the walls or anything on the ground and had to film with LED lights. The cave is 1300 feet long and the paintings on the walls have been determined to be 32,000 years old. The goal in collecting all the data is to create stories of what might have happened during that time.

part of a painting on the walls of the Chauvet Cave

Scientists and Archaeologists filming in the cave

Here is a link to a video where the director talks about the film. There are lots of good videos about this film, as well as some great images of the paintings on the wall. Just google "Chauvet Cave", if it interests you.

I imagine seeing this film in 3D is an experience in itself but I enjoyed it immensely just seeing it on my 32" TV. There were several people interviewed (in the film) about the research they were doing with all the data that was collected and it is just amazing what info they glean from the little data that there is. I can't remember the exact circumstances of this conversation but someone in the area of the cave was painting and he was asked, "why are you painting"? he answered, "I am not painting. It is the hand of the spirit". That response just sticks with me, even three days after hearing it.

9 comments:

Ah yes--I know about this film--have seen many clips (and I think you and I might have talked about it-or perhaps I spoke with someone else)--I meant to see it when it was around--but didn't (seldom splurge on an outside movie. Maybe I'll find it in the library and give it a look start to finish. Everyone I know whose seen it, raves.

Deanna thanks for posting this. I bet we (my guy and I) would love it, especially since his last tattoo was 'fallen bison'!! It looks pretty much like this:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cave_of_Altamira

deanna...i had this long constructed comment for you which i just killed...deleted. I will email you tomorrow...about this. got to get myself together to go to moms. boy this is when I don't like technology.

I've been in several of the caves in France and they are amazing. The best was this small cave next to this old French guy's house. I knocked on his door and after a bit, he came out. I said we wanted to see the cave in my best French. We paid our fees, went in and he gave us a tour in French which I translated as best I could to my husband. There were little animals & symbols here and there that he showed us with his flashlight. The last thing - the best - was the figure of a human: a man. Human figures are very rare in cave paintings as far as I'm aware. I'll have to see this movie.